Display rack



E. D. BARNES DISPLAY RACK Filed Aug. 2, 195

INVENTOR. r/ .2 ZZv/Ms jZ Zar/Qey Nov. 11, 1958 nited ttes Patent Thisinvention relates generally to display racks and more particularly to animproved rack for displaying cartons of merchandise.

Producers of consumers goods are constantly striving I to obtainprominent display space for their products in the retail establishmentswhich sell them, to bring these goods in view of the public. To thisend, it is often the practice of the manufacturer to furnish theretailer with a display rack of one kind or another for displaying hismerchandise. A disadvantage of this practice however, lies in the factthat the retailer usually finds such a rack convenient for displayingthe merchandise of other manufacturers, and the producer who providedthe rack does not enjoy its benefits.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide animproved display rack in which its utility is confined to the display ofone particular brand of merchandise exclusively.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display rackfor displaying merchandise in its original cartons.

Another object is to provide an improved display rack which will carry avariety of sizes of cartons containing the merchandise of onemanufacturer, but will not be suitable for supporting the merchanidiseof other manufacturers.

Another object is to provide an improved display rack "rack of sturdybut simple and inexpensive construction.

According to this invention cartons containing merchandise' are providedwith a plurality of perforations in their bottom panel. The cartons aresuspended by means of these perforations on a rack which comprises anupright gridiron-like framework having pegs extending approximatelynormal thereto. The pegs are spaced in conformance with the spacing ofthe perforations in the cartons so that they may be inserted therein tosupport the carton. The upright members of the framework are shaped insuch a manner as to shield the upper surfaces of the pegs, to precludetheir serving as a shelf for setting other types of merchandise on topof them. The

framework is provided with a pair of hinged brackets adapted to supportit in an upright position on a floor or base, which may be foldedagainst the framework, to permit it to be hung from suitable supports ona wall.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention which will become morefully apparent from the following detailed description, may be achievedthrough embodiment of the invention in an apparatus such as theexemplifying device depicted in and herein described in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display rack alone, without thecartons which it supports;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the display rack with the merchandisecarrying cartons in position;

angle, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the rack shown in Figure 2, withits supporting brackets folded in, and the rack hung on a wall; and

Figure 4 is a bottom view of one of the cartons displayed on the rack,depicting the locations of the perforations utilized for suspending it.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and specifically toFigure 1 thereof, wherein the display rack is shown set up for restingon a floor or other base. The rack comprises essentially a framework,generally denoted by the numeral 8, on which a plurality of cartons orcontainers 9 and 10 are supported as shown in Figure 2.

When the rack is utilized for a floor display, or the like, theframework 8 is supported in an upright position by a pair of hingedbrackets 11 and 12. The bracket 11 is pivotally attached to the upperportion of the framework 8 by a pair of hinges 13 and 14, which serve topermit the bracket to be swung into juxtaposition with the framework 8as shown in Figure 3, or outwardly as illustrated in Figure 1.

In like manner, the bracket 12 is pivotally secured to the bottom memberof the framework 8 by a pair of hinges 15 and 16. The hinged connectionof the bracket 12 to the framework 8 serves to enable the bracket to beswung inwardly against the framework when not in use,'

as depicted in Figure 3. When it is functioning as a support for theframework 8, it is swung outwardly, at an Outward movement of th bracket11 is limited by an abutment 17 formed on the bracket 12, by bendingupwardly its side opposite the hinges 15 and 16. The bottom member ofthe bracket 11 is caused to bear against the abutment 17 to limit itsoutward movement and thus form a sturdy support for the framework 8, andthe merchandise displayed thereon.

When the display rack is to serve as a wall rack, the

bracket 11 is swung downwardly into a position against the framework 8and the bracket 12 is swung upwardly against its cooperating bracket 11as illustrated in Figure 3. The framework 8 is provided with a pair ofloops 18 on its top side which may be placed over a pair of supports 19,secured to a wall for suspending the rack. Thus, the rack may beconveniently set in an upright position or it may be suspended fromsuitable supports on a wall. 4

The framework 8 is comprised of a series of parallely disposedupstanding members 21 which support the cartons 9 and It The members 21in the illustrated embodiment are formed of metal rods although otherstructural forms and materials may be utilized. The members 21 aresecured by welding or other suitable means, to a plurality ofhorizontally disposed ties 22, to form the gridiron-like framework 8, asclearly shown in Figure l.

Extending outwardly from each of the horizontal ties 22, except thebottom one, are a plurality of peg-s 23. These pegs are rigidly fixed tothe ties 22 and are disposed approximately normal thercto, being spacedthereon in conformance with the spacing of perforations or apertures 24-in the bottom panel of the cartons 9 and 10, as depicted in Figure 4.The cartons are held in position on the framework 8, by inserting thepegs 23 into the perforations 24 to thereby suspend the cartons on therack. it will be noted that the carton 9 shown in Figure 4 is providedwith the perforations 24 on both ends of its bottom panel for the sakeof convenience, so that it may be suspended from either end.

Considerable importance is attached to the longitudinal configuration ofthe upright members 21., in the present invention, to preserve theexclusiveness of the display rack to a particular brand of merchandise.As most'clearly seen in the side view of Figure 3, each of the uprightmembers 21 is formed to present a series of inclined bearing surfaces28, upon which the bottom panels of the cartons 9 and 10 rest, as theyare suspended from the pegs 23. i

The inclined bearing surfaces 28 of each upright member 21, are disposedin separate planes, but parallel to each other, and are located in thesame plane with the inclined bearing surfaces 28 in the same row of theother upright members 21. Thus, the bearing surfaces 28 in the top rowof the framework 8 are all in the same plane, and in like manner, thebearing surfaces 28 of the several upright members 21 comprising thesecond row, are all in the same plane.

The adjacent bearing surfaces 28 of each upright member 21 are connectedtogether by a connector 29. One of the connectors 29 extends backwardly,at approximately ninety degrees, from the lower end of each of thebearing surfaces 28 except the bottom ones,'and is secured to the upperend of the succeeding lower bearing surface 28. As shown in the drawingsthe upright members 21 are bent to shape so that the bearing surfaces 28are integral with their cooperating connectors 29, but other forms ofconstruction may be used, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

The connectors 29 are of approximately the same length as the pegs 23 sothat the pegs extend outwardly very little, if any, beyond the plane ofthe adjacent upper bearing surface 28. The pegs 23 are located directlybeneath the connector, providing only suflicient clearance for theportion of the carton between the perforation 24 and its edge. With thisarrangement, the row of hearing surfaces 28, directly above a row ofpegs 23, serves as a barrier to protect the upper surfaces of the pegs,so that they cannot be used as a shelf for supporting merchandise notintended to be displayed on the rack.

The upright members 21 cooperate in pairs, four pairs being shown in theillustrated embodiment. Each pair is spaced apart a distance slightlyless than the width of the smallest carton that it is to support so thatthe cooperating pair of upright members 21 will support an upright rowof cartons. Larger cartons of proportionate size are supported acrosstwo or more pairs of upright members 21, to make the rack available fora variety of sizes of cartons, as may be required for the particulartype of merchandise to be displayed thereon.

For example, the cartons 9 in the drawings are shown as containing sixcans of canned goods, while the cartons 10 are designed to contain 12cans. The cartons it) are of the same depth as the cartons 9 but twiceas long, and their bottom panels are provided with four of theperforations 24 on each end, spaced to conform to the spacing of theperforations 24 on the cartons 9 as shown in Figure 4. Although only twosizes of cartons are shown in the drawings, a greater variety of sizesmay be providcd to conform to the particular requirements.

From the foregoing detailed description of a practical workingembodiment of the invention, it is apparent that there has been provideda useful and convenient display rack adapted to display a single brandof merchandise exclusively.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been set forth inconsiderable detail to constitute a full disclosure, it is to beunderstood that persons skilled in the art may utilize the novelprinciples here taught in apparatus differing in construction from theparticular device herein described, without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined in the subjoined claim.

The principles of the invention having now been fully explained inconnection with the foregoing description of embodying structure, Ihereby claim as my invention:

In a rack for displaying merchandise, a plurality of upright membersrigidly secured by means of ties in spaced relationship to formaframework, a plurality of horizontal rows of pegs mounted on said tiesto extend outwardly therefrom, the pegs of each row being disposed inspaced relationship, said upright members comprising a plurality ofinclined bearing surfaces disposed one above the other and a connectorsecured to the lower end of each of said inclined bearing surfaces toextend backwardly therefrom and attach the upper end of the succeedinglower inclined bearing surface of the same upright member, saidconnectors being located directly above a row of said pegs, whereby saidconnectors in cooperation with said inclined bearing surfaces serve as abarrier to prevent the resting of thick articles on top of said pegs butdo not preclude suspending articles on said framework from said pegs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.106,230 Fawcett Sept. 28, 1937 337,983 OKeefe Mar. 16, 1886 488,485Smith Dec. 20, 1892 829,475 Jaquith Aug. 28, 1906 1,196,148 RainboltAug. 29, 1916 1,689,988 White Oct. 30, 1928 2,223,554 Davis Dec. 3, 19402,416,879 Moreton Mar. 4, 1947

